Battery-plate-filling machine



: May 10,1927. 'y 1,627,763

C. M. ANGELL BATTERY PLATE FILLING MACHINE Filed Fe, "7. 1925 S'Sheets-Sheet J.

, VE Itz Chester/*7. Angell C. M. ANGELL BATTERY PLATE FILLING MAGHNEIv May 1o, 1927.

Filed Feb. v, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 chester/wangen May 10,1927. I 1,627,763

C. M. ANGELL BATTERY PLATE FILLING MACHINE Filed Feb. '7. 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 o g3 /IZQ Chese/M Ange/ Mina..

May 10 1927.

' 1,627,763 C. M. ANGELL BATTERY PLATE FILLING MACHINE Filed Feb. '7, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 frg j e5 v E' IC: Chester/ nye?? May 10 1927.

c. M. ANGELI. l

BATTERY PLATE FILLING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. v. 1925 VE :LER Chester/7. Ang el? PatentedMay 10, 1927. i

AUNITED STATES A f -1,627,763 PATENT ol-Fica 1CHESTER M. ANGELL, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO 'VESTA BATTERY COB- ZPORATION, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

BATTERY-PLATE-FILLING MACHINE.

This invention relates to a machine Afor vfilling storage 'battery plates or grids with,n the paste-like compound forming the active principle of the battery.

It is an object of this invention to provide an-improved machine for filling the grids with paste.

It is also an object of this invention to provide improved vfeeding means for the grids prior to the filling operation.

It is another object of this invention to yprovide improved means for successively applying paste to opposite sides of a grid.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved paste applying mechanism.

Other and further important objects of this invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the specification andthe accompanying drawings.

The invention, in a preferred form, is illustrated on the drawings and hereinafter more fully described.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is-a side elevation of a complete machine embodying features of this invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof.

. Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional elevation of the left hand end 'of the machine showing the grid feeding mechanism and first paste box.

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional elevation of the grid reversing mechanism anrlsecond paste box.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary enlarged elevation of the 'grid feeding mechanism.

Figure 6 is a section on the line VI-VI of Figure 5. l l f Figure 7 is an enlarged rear view of the paste box showing the adjustablel scraper mounting and pivots for'the box.

Figure 8 is a detail section showing the` supports for the front part of the ,paste box.

As shown on the drawings: f The general method involved in this invention comprises sta-cking and feeding in-- dividual grid blanks 10 through a paste-ap-v plying mechanism, then reversing thegrids and passingy them through a duplicate pasteapplying mechanism to assure even application of the paste to both sides of the grids. To accomplish lthese results automatically, one machine incorporates the necessary elements into a coacting whole.

` belt and chain.

Application mea February 7, 1925. serial No. 7,490.

A table or platform 12 is supported on suitable standards 11 and supports a second platform 13 4thereabove along either side ofk which synchronized conveyor chains 14 are trained, the chains running over sprocket wheels 15 at either extremity of the platform 13 and returning beneath the platform. A conveyor'belt 16 runs over the second platform 13 between and in timed relationship to the chains 14. This belt is trained over the pulleys 17 and 18, the latter adjacent the center of the machine as a whole, so that the belt 16 supports the grids only through the first paste applying mechanism.

A second' conveyor belt 19 similarly runs over the second `half of the platform 13, the leading pulley 20 for this belt being-spaced suiiciently from the trailing pul1ey.18 of the first belt 16 to allow the grids 10 to drop down off the first belt and hang from the chain 14 until picked up by the second belt in a reverse or turned over .position as indi- `cated in Figure 4. Because of the paste deposited on the belts in the interstices between combined dogs and cams 23, the dogs engaging the lugs 24 of the grids 10 to propel the same and the cams or humps of the dogs' `'serving to actuate a feeding mechanism delivering one grid at al time to the conveyor The feeding mechanism comprises a stacking device 25 adapted to receive a pile of grids and retain all but the lowest one by engaging the lugs of the ball ance. A trip lever 26 ispivoted at 2T and carries a detent 28 normally restraining the lowermost grid by engaging the lug thereof. The opposite end of the lever carries a roller 29 adapted to be lifted by one of the cam dogs when another one of the dogs is in a )osition to receive the grid lug and advance e same, the movement of the lever 26 servhing to release the detent 28 from the grid lug.

A spring 30'returns the lever'into, engaging position with the next grid lug yas soon asI the cam 23 passes beyond the roller 29. The` spacing of the dogs 23 is such that grids follow each other as'closely as is practically possible to "reduce the waste of paste in the paste applying apparatus. I.

The paste box 31 proper is pivoted at its rearon the shaft 32 supported in brackets 33 on the table. rlhe rear Wall 34 of the box is adjustable vertically by means of the Set screws 35 and the inner bottom edge thereof carries a finishing slice 36 tending to smoothly apply the `paste and remove the excess paste from the grids. An agltator or beater 37 is traversely mounted Within the box and the revolving blades thereof serve to force the paste into the 'interstices of the grids. By disconnecting the beater drive belt the Whole box may be tilted up and back to facilitate cleaning. ln Iits operative position the front end of the box is supported by brackets 38 straddling the conveyor platform as shown in Figure 8. A roller 39 is provided flush With the surface of the conveyor platform and immediately below the slice 36 to take the thrust and save Wear of the conveyor belt due to the extra pressure imposed thereon at this point.

rlhe operation is as follows: A stack of grids is placed vin the grid feedi ing mechanism with the loWermost grid lugs held back by the detents 28 on the levers 26 hooking beneath the lugs on the grid. The conveyor belt with the superimposed paper, and the conveyor chains, advance in synchronism, the cam dogs on the chains tripping the levers 26 to deposit single grids on the paperv covered belt with the grid lugs in position to .be Idriven by the cam dogs immediately preceding the pair of cam dogsy that trip the lever. Therefore, each grid is individually moved through the machine by a pair of dogs.

After being deposited on the conveyor the grids pass in succession through the first 'paste box Where the paste is worked into -From the second conveyor the grids slide onto an inspection table 40 where the Workman can smooth out the surfaces 'and fill in cavities to reclaim grids With defective fillings. i

I am aware that many changes maybe made and n umerous details 'of construction may be varied through a Wide range Without departing from the principles of this invention, and I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon, other- Wise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention f l. In a machine of the class described a l table, a conveyings means adapted to individually advance a plurality of grids in un1son,'a pair of supporting conveyors `adapted to support said grids in a horizontal4 position, said grids adapted to be moved oft' the Yrst conveyor'I by the conveying means and delivered thereby to the second conveyor in a reversed position. y

2. lin a machine of the class described a table, a conveying means adapted t-o individually advance a plurality of grids in unison, a pair of supporting conveyors adapted to support said grids in a horizontal position, said grids adapted to be moved off the first conveyor by the conveying means and delivered thereby to the second conveyor in a reversed position, means adapted to feed said grids singly to the conveying means, and means for applying paste to the grids while on each conveyor.

3. ln a machine for handling plate grids, a platform, a stacking means for the grids, a .paste box above said platform, means normally restraining the lowermost grid in said stacking means, means adapted to release said restraining means and remove said lowermost grid, and means forl advancing the grids through the paste'box.

4. In a machine for handling plate grids, a platform, a stacking means for the grids, al pair of pasteboxes above said platform, meansk normally restraining the lowermost grid in said stacking means, means adapted to release said restraining means and remove said loWermost grid, lmeans lfor advancing the grids through therst paste box, and means for reversing the grids and-passing them through the second paste box.

5. ln a machine for handling battery plate grids, stacking means to position the lugs of said grids, a chain conveyor, cam dogs thereon adapted to engage the lugs of the'lowermost grid, a detent lever normally restraining said lowermost grid and adapted to be released by one of the cam dogs when another one of said dogs engages the lugs of said grid to adyance the same.

6. In a machine for handling battery plate grids, stacking'means to position the lugs of said grids, a chain conveyor, cam dogs thereon adapted toengage the lugs of the lower-most grid, a detent lever normally re-.

straining said lowermost grid and adapted to be released by one of the cam dogs when another `one of said dogs engages the lugs of said grid to advance the same, a conveyor belt supporting said grids during their movement, and a second conveyor belt supporting said grids in a reversed position after len f ing the first conveyor belt.

7. In a machine for handling battery plate grids, stacking means to position the lugs of said grids, a chain conveyor, cam dogs thereon adapted to engag the lugs of the lowermost grid, a detent'lever normally restraining said lowermost grid and adapted to be released by one of the cam dogswhen another one of said dogs engages the lugsof said grid to advance the same, paste boxes for applying paste to either side of said grids in succession, and means for reversing said grids between said paste boxes.

8. In a machine of the class described, a conveyor belt adapted to advance individual grids, a paste box positioned above said conveyor, a slice on the rear edge of said box adapted to compress and remove excess paste from said grids and a roll positioned beneath 10 scribed my name.

CHESTER ANGELL.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto sub- 15 

